Diriba Defends Title with Three-Peat and Mkungo Comes Up Big in Debut at 2017 EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler

PITTSBURGH – A competitive field of international and American athletes produced an exciting race at the fifth edition of the EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler, also doubling as the PRRO Championship for the first time, on Sunday morning, Nov. 5. Panuel Mkungo, 23, of Kenya continued his streak of podium finishes in 2017 by breaking the tape in 47 minutes, 3 seconds in a thrilling men’s race. Buze Diriba, 23, of Ethiopia won the women’s division, clocking 52:11 to become the first three-peat event winner and recording the sixth fastest 10-mile road race performance in the world this year.

In the men’s race, under cool, damp conditions, the early pacing duties were led by Silas Kipruto of Kenya and Ian LaMere of the United States, as 15 men ran together through mile four. Heading into mile five, a pack of five men including Kipruto, Mkungo, Simion Chirchir, Stanley Kebenei and Elkanah Kibet started to pull away. This same pack stayed together until the seven-mile mark, when Kebenei started to drop. The lead quartet stayed together until mile nine, when Mkungo charged to the lead. For winning his first PRRO Circuit race and coming up big in his Pittsburgh debut, the Elkton, Maryland resident took home $6,500 - $4,000 as race champion and $2,500 as PRRO Champion.

“I was just feeling out the pace early on and thought about making a move at eight miles, but I held off until the 15K mark. That’s when I made a little push to start to pull away,” Mkungo said. “This was my first-time racing in Pittsburgh and it was such a strong group of competitors today, so to come away with the win is special.”

Kipruto, 32, from Kenya finished runner-up in 47:11, while 2017 IAAF World Championship marathoner and top American Kibet came in a close third with a time of 47:13.

In the women’s race, Diriba, Gotytom Gebreslase, Monicah Ngige and Karolina Nadolska immediately jumped to the lead, and by mile two, they had a 10 to 15 second lead on the trailing pack. This lead group remained together through the five-mile mark, at which time Diriba and Gebreslase surged and never looked back. The defending champion started to pull away with one mile to go and her sprint to the finish was enough to hold off Gebreslase. By winning her third EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler title, Diriba earned a total of $14,000, which includes the PRRO Championship $10,000 PRRO Super Bonus as a past PRRO Circuit 2016-17 event winner.

“I was excited to return to Pittsburgh and defend my title today,” Diriba said. “The course was challenging as usual, but I felt good and am happy to have come out on top again.”

Gebreslase, 22, of Ethiopia came in a close second, recording a 52:15, while Ngige, 23, of Kenya took third in 53:36. Kaitlin Gregg Goodman was the top American, finishing fifth with a time of 56:03.

“We loved seeing all runners celebrate as they crossed the finish line today, but it was extra special to be there as Buze achieved her third consecutive win,” said P3R CEO Patrice Matamoros. “On the fifth anniversary of the EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler, we are glad the weather didn’t keep more than 4,600 runners from enjoying Pittsburgh’s favorite fall road race through four of our most well-known neighborhoods.”

Below is a list of the top 10 overall finishers for the male and female Open divisions at the 2017 EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler. Cash awards are based on official gun times from USATF.

MALE ATHLETES

Place

Name

Country

Affiliation

Time

Prize Money

1

Panuel Mkungo

KEN

Altra Running

47:03

$6,500 *

2

Silas Kipruto

KEN

Unattached

47:11

$4,000 *

3

Elkanah Kibet

USA

U.S. Army WCAP

47:13

$2,500 **

4

Simion Chirchir

KEN

Unattached

47:20

$1,000

5

Luis Vargas

USA

Unattached

47:22

$1,500 **

6

Augustus Maiyo

USA

U.S. Army WCAP

47:34

$1,000 **

7

Tyler Pennel

USA

ZAP Fitness / Reebok

47:41

$500 **

8

Stanley Kebenei

USA

NIKE / American Distance Project

47:45

$1,600 *

9

Ryan Mahalsky

USA

Brooks Hansons ODP

47:48

10

Tyler McCandless

USA

Altra Running /

Boulder Harriers

47:56

* Includes Open prize purse and PRRO Championship bonus money

** Includes Open and U.S.-only prize purses

*** U.S.-only prize purse

FEMALE ATHLETES

Place

Name

Country

Affiliation

Time

Prize Money

1

Buze Diriba

ETH

adidas

52:11

$14,000 *

2

Gotytom Gebreslase

ETH

adidas

52:15

$2,500

3

Monicah Ngige

KEN

Lansing Sports

53:36

$1,500

4

Karolina Nadolska

POL

MEDSPORT Poznan

53:48

$1,000

5

Kaitlin Gregg Goodman

USA

Rabbit / Strava

Track Club

56:03

$1,750 **

6

Susan Tanui

USA

U.S. Army WCAP

57:20

$1,250 **

7

Calli Thackery

GBR

Unattached

57:57

$500 **

8

Kaylee Flanagan

USA

Unattached

59:21

$500 ***

9

Kerry Allen

USA

Pacers Running /

GRC-New Balance

59:47

$250 ***

10

Rachel Jaten

USA

Brooks

1:00:33

$100 ***

* Includes Open prize purse and PRRO Championship bonus money

** Includes Open and U.S.-only prize purses

*** U.S.-only prize purse

For more information and complete results, visit: Pittsburgh10Miler.org. Please note the results listed on the website are based on chip or transp time.

About the EQT Pittsburgh 10 MilerLaunched in 2013 by P3R, the EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler has become Pittsburgh’s premier fall road race, hosting more than 5,000 runners and featuring more than $26,200 in prize money overall, with $5,200 available for U.S. athletes. The 2016 race opened the PRRO Circuit 2016-17, showcasing world class competition at four prestigious U.S. road race events shorters than the marathon distance, and the 2017 event will host the PRRO Championship for the first time. Read more at: Pittsburgh10Miler.org.

About the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. (P3R)P3R is a nonprofit organization that is passionate about promoting a love of running and enhancing community access to health & fitness education and activities. Best known for organizing the acclaimed annual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, we also run a variety of other high-quality races, events, and health and fitness programs throughout the Pittsburgh region. While many of our races attract some of the nation’s highest-profile professional athletes, we offer activities for all ages and ability levels. The only criterion for participation is a desire to be happy, healthy and active! Learn more at: P3R.org

About the EQT Foundation
EQT and the EQT Foundation are committed to the social and economic vitality of our operating regions. For the past decade, the EQT Foundation has made a difference by supporting local programs and initiatives that involved education, community and economic development, the arts and the environment. Together, with a variety of nonprofits organizations, the EQT Foundation develops strong partnerships that enrich the diversity and viability of our communities, sustain the principles of continuous learning, and focus on environmental protection efforts. Read more at: www.eqt.com/our-communities/eqt-foundation